fom Larry Brooks of the New York Post,

- Now is the time for the Islanders to get in on the bidding for Matt Duchene and Gabriel Landeskog, both placed on the block by the dysfunctional Avalanche, both dynamic, highly skilled offensive players who would jump-start an attack that has produced the fewest five-on-five shot attempts in the NHL.

Landeskog, the 24-year-old captain, would fit neatly on Tavares’ left side. Duchene, the 25-year-old who went third in the same entry draft in which No. 91 was first overall, could either play on Tavares’ wing or center the club’s second line.

Colorado is seeking a top-four defenseman, but who isn’t? And while it would be unwise for the Islanders to move Travis Hamonic in a deal for either player, Snow should be willing to discuss sending Nick Leddy — a very good one whose annual $5.5 million cap hit through 2021-22 meshes neatly with Duchene’s $6 million per through 2018-19 and Landeskog’s $5.57 million per through 2020-21 — out west as part of a deal that would reshape the team, reset the season and reenergize the franchise.

Or Snow could stand pat and pledge allegiance to the status quo. What does he have to lose? Only his job.

- Surely the Red Wings’ focus is not on extending their playoff-qualification streak to 26 seasons when the team is nowhere close to Cup contention and hasn’t been for years.

The fact is, Detroit has not won a single playoff round over the past three seasons, has won one in the last five and three in seven years since losing their title defense to Pittsburgh in the 2009 final.

It’s time for GM Ken Holland and the franchise to take one step back in order to take two steps forward, even if this is the last season for what will be a hardly lamented Joe.

Joe Louis Arena: Hockey’s Shea Stadium.

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